Laine won't get Matthews money. Matthews was number 1 and is a center, Saint Patrick was number 2. Schieffle has the best contract in the league 6 million for 8 yrs. Wheelhouse just signed for 5 yrs, Buff is in about yr 3 of 5. Connor will sign for about what Wee Willy Nylander held out for. Trouba wants to sign for a US team and will go. The Leafs mgmt don't know how to add or they wouldn't have signed pyjama boy.
- ricroc

How does this mean they don't know how to add? They signed the biggest UFA in at least 12 years and he took millions less to sign for them.

I say this is another example of 31 other teams and their fanbases being way to used to treating the Toronto market like Santa Claus while finding it quite distasteful that all those Leaf fans might ACTUALLY be allowed any hope. NO..can't have that. Just shut the hell up Leaf Nation. Pump enough money into the league to keep four horrible expansion teams afloat while everyone else spits in your face. Where was the talk of offer sheets for Crosby, Malkin, McDavid, Gaudreau, Laine etc?
- Kayakjack

Preach! 🙌👏

The narrative that signing Tavares as a free agent is a bad move is the dumbest one I’ve heard yet.. any team would have signed him.. some would have for even more than what he’s getting.. if Matthews leaves it’ll be because of his own free will.. does he want a legit chance to win or cripple his new team, it’s up to him, not the leafs

It will be Matthews to the Rangers but the Leafs will match leaving Marner open to an offer sheet which the Rangers will give him and succeed. It's time for Dubas to step up and make some emergency moves. Marner will be a Canuck for Tanev and Leivo. Take THAT to the bank.
- fatty_mcmanboobs

Agree! ...Vancouver getting relocated to st. John newfoundland. .take that to .the.. ..anyways. .leafs are fine cap wise..all this crappie is shat ..next?..

The narrative that signing Tavares as a free agent is a bad move is the dumbest one I’ve heard yet.. any team would have signed him.. some would have for even more than what he’s getting.. if Matthews leaves it’ll be because of his own free will.. does he want a legit chance to win or cripple his new team, it’s up to him, not the leafs
- Puck-us-all

If San Jose signed him for 13 million per(Their offer), no one would say a thing about it.

Islanders about to play the song, "oops we did it again", as their new theme song this summer, with Lee, Eberle, & Nelson all hitting UFA.

If San Jose signed him for 13 million per(Their offer), no one would say a thing about it.
- RogerRoeper

I think it's because the thought is Toronto has Austin as a 1C, don't need two 1C's, especially $10m+ 1C where San Jose does not have a 1C of that quality. There are very few teams in the NHL who carry two 1C's at that level contract, or should I say carry a 2C at $10m+.

Wow!
That guy from Buffalo just had his way with all of you beta's.
He dismantled you all with cold hard facts and all anyone could do was heave out a City of Buffalo insult.
He wins every (frank)in time he's here.
His name is Garth and he owns Leaf fans on Hockeybuzz.
FACT!

It really sucks that you have to try and defend the Sabres in an argument against the leafs. Leafs rebuild started later and they are still way ahead. Leafs got the better top centre. Leafs got an equal player at 4 as the Sabres got at 2. Leafs got the better Nylander. Babcock turned down buffalo to come coach the leafs. Tavares wouldn't even meet with buffalo and signed for less with the leafs than other teams offered. Leafs young guns have never missed the playoffs. Sabres young guys have never been in a playoff hunt coming down the stretch. Buffalo has 0 cups in team history and the leafs have the second most of any team in the league. But you keep fighting the good fight. Us leafs fans are so envious.
- HealthyScratch6

You were on fire until you started referencing pre-Cold War cups, it solicits a little bit of an eye roll

The narrative that signing Tavares as a free agent is a bad move is the dumbest one I’ve heard yet.. any team would have signed him.. some would have for even more than what he’s getting.. if Matthews leaves it’ll be because of his own free will.. does he want a legit chance to win or cripple his new team, it’s up to him, not the leafs
- Puck-us-all

What if by going to a different team Matthews makes it a contender?

I think it's because the thought is Toronto has Austin as a 1C, don't need two 1C's, especially $10m+ 1C where San Jose does not have a 1C of that quality. There are very few teams in the NHL who carry two 1C's at that level contract, or should I say carry a 2C at $10m+.
- Kucherovski

The last 3 cup winners had 2 #1 cs...
To win the cup you need great depth down the middle.

It IS because it's the Leafs. No one hates the Sharks.

What if by going to a different team Matthews makes it a contender?
- mattmoulson

Certainly not the Coyotees. LOL.

Such a chocolatey time to be a Laffs fan.

Wow!
That guy from Buffalo just had his way with all of you beta's.
He dismantled you all with cold hard facts and all anyone could do was heave out a City of Buffalo insult.
He wins every (frank)in time he's here.
His name is Garth and he owns Leaf fans on Hockeybuzz.
FACT!
- shoreorrpark

I do what I can.

The last 3 cup winners had 2 #1 cs...
To win the cup you need great depth down the middle.

It IS because it's the Leafs. No one hates the Sharks.
- RogerRoeper

Who do you think the Caps 2C is or even 1C? Kuz and Backstrom 1 and 2, in whatever order you want? Neither of them make $10m per year. I agree, depth is important, I mean look at the Lightning but not a lot of teams pay 2 centers $10m or more per year. One center gets $10m and then the 2nd Center gets $6m-$8m per year.

Who do you think the Caps 2C is or even 1C? Kuz and Backstrom 1 and 2, in whatever order you want? Neither of them make $10m per year. I agree, depth is important, I mean look at the Lightning but not a lot of teams pay 2 centers $10m or more per year. One center gets $10m and then the 2nd Center gets $6m-$8m per year.
- Kucherovski

The cap is going up. Each year salaries rise as a result. Does Mcdonaugh make sense as the #2 D for the Lightning? Time will tell. I think that's a bad contract.

Teams can decide where to spend their $. It helps when you have a #1 D making 5 million in his prime like the Leafs do.

Teams are winning with 2 #1 cs.

The cap is going up. Each year salaries rise as a result. Does Mcdonaugh make sense as the #2 D for the Lightning? Time will tell. I think that's a bad contract.

Teams can decide where to spend their $. It helps when you have a #1 D making 5 million in his prime like the Leafs do.
- RogerRoeper

Of course the cap goes up but it doesn't go up that quickly. An $85m cap, two centers making $10m per year that's almost 24% of the cap on two centers. Lets say Austin gets $12m, JT getting $11m that's over 27% of an $85m cap on two centers.

McDonagh is 29 and his cap hit is under $7m which is great for a very good #2D.

What if by going to a different team Matthews makes it a contender?
- mattmoulson

Well he is on a very talented Toronto team that supposedly has huge cap issues and isn’t a contender at all, as per many posters.. so how could glassthews ever make anyone a contender!?!?!

But serious who can afford him and give up the 4 1st and contend?

Well he is on a very talented Toronto team that supposedly has huge cap issues and isn’t a contender at all, as per many posters.. so how could glassthews ever make anyone a contender!?!?!

But serious who can afford him and give up the 4 1st and contend?
- Puck-us-all

Say Matthews is the 2nd best player in the league. Would I hypothetically trade 4 first round picks for him, absolutely

Say Matthews is the 2nd best player in the league. Would I hypothetically trade 4 first round picks for him, absolutely
- mattmoulson

And pay him 14m+ and contend? What team can do it?

Certainly not the Coyotees. LOL.
- RogerRoeper

The Coyotes are tied for least goals against in the league. I think it's reasonable to consider that the Coyotes would be a perennial playoff team with Matthews

The Coyotes are tied for least goals against in the league. I think it's reasonable to consider that the Coyotes would be a perennial playoff team with Matthews
- mattmoulson

The problem there is 14mil for one player is likely 60% of there actual payroll

And pay him 14m+ and contend? What team can do it?
- Puck-us-all

The Sabres should 100% do it if he reaches RFA. Any team with cap space and picks available should. Signing Tavares might not have been the best fiscal approach for the Leafs but they did it because he's great and they could

The Sabres should 100% do it if he reaches RFA. Any team with cap space and picks available should. Signing Tavares might not have been the best fiscal approach for the Leafs but they did it because he's great and they could
- mattmoulson

I think I agree Buffalo should, you give up future picks but Buffalo is loaded with young talent now so you're not giving them up. Buffalo won't, nobody does offer sheets but it would make sense for Buffalo to do it.

The Sabres should 100% do it if he reaches RFA. Any team with cap space and picks available should. Signing Tavares might not have been the best fiscal approach for the Leafs but they did it because he's great and they could
- mattmoulson

How is “signing Tavares not the best fiscal approach” but offer sheeting Mathews is? That’s just silly